NOTE: There are new cars for TF4. A Bugatti 2013 car tentatively called Drift and a 2014 Corvette concept called Slingshot. Hound is confirmed. :D Update: I took a snooze for a moment and its now 2 in the morning. TGIF. :D Oh and the episode of TFP last night? OMG. Its on you tube. Try TheJackie1768 for HD. Bless whoever that is and you didn't hear it here. :D
-0-And now that I'm conscious again, on with the show...
The Diego Diaries: Catastrophe 5: Blow Back/Push Back
-0-Under the ground
Hound paused looking at the ground again. They were getting close to high traffic habitation because the heavy divots in the ground were fresh. The edges were still sharp. He looked back at the team behind them, then felt tremors. Rising, he gestured them to pull back and they did falling into a defensive posture down the long tunnel.
Ahead of them, the tiny darkest place indicating the junction was inky for a moment, then lightened as the presence of someone coming was made clear. They waited expectantly, their weapons poised for the worst kind of fighting, tight intense combat in a tightly confined space.
Someone wasn't going to walk away from it and they were determined that it wouldn't be them.
-0-Earth at the same time
They met in small groups in the halls of congresses, unions, parliaments and assemblies all over the world to discuss the 42 bombs that had been exploded at the same time in 42 major cities of the world. They detonated at midnight Greenwich Mean Time and had sent a message.
They weren't big enough to do real damage. They were designed to send a message that it was time to take action and send the aliens away permanently. Now was the time to listen before real trouble came. The first volley in the war for the hearts, minds … and fear levels of the people of Earth had begun. Now was the time to know that not everyone followed the official line. Some were ready to fight for their own version of freedom without fear or conscience interfering with their avowed goals.
No one died in the bombings. Things were damaged. Propaganda was left at the sites along with the now ubiquitous 'Earth for Earthers! All Aliens Leave! Now!' No one was hurt.
This time.
-0-At an apartment in Vos Tower
Neo stood holding an unhappy baby. He had been fussy all night long falling into recharge finally in the early morning. Prowler missed his family. His family was missing him but they were hip deep in hoo-hah.
"I think he wants Ada." Hero looked up with an anxious expression on her pretty little face.
Neo looked down and nodded. "I know, darling. But Ada is working. They will be home soon. Until then, you and Prowler will live with us. Fifi is so happy to have you both."
Fifi who was standing beside Hero turned and hugged her tightly. "Hero is good, Naneth."
"I think so too. In fact, I think you and Hero should have breakfast at your table. Like a picnic," Neo said with a smile. Laret who was fixing their meals nodded and turned. "Come, babies. Breakfast is served."
Both femmes looked at Laret and smiled. Fifi took Hero's servo and they followed entering Fifi's room walking to the tiny table and chairs by the window. Laret put their bowls down and pulled back the gauzy curtains that hung over the windows, their folds pooling on the floor like a shimmering white cloud. They sat and looked up smiling. "You begin. I will get your glasses," Laret said as she walked past an ecstatic Neo.
Prowler whimpered. He would continue to do so for some time.
-0-Early morning on Earth
Ratchet rose from his corner of the hangar and stretched getting the kinks out of his coils. Glancing around, scanning every living thing within two miles of himself, he felt satisfied that things were in servo. He stepped out and looked at the slowly lightening sky above. Streaks of brilliant red and orange began to form and the sea began to emerge from the darkness. Morning was coming to Diego Garcia. :Ironhide:
:Ratchet:
:What's up?:
:They're getting close. Not much more to say:
:Frag that:
:I hear ya:
They chatted a bit before the base began to re-emerge from its overnight torpor and the hard work of rebuild began again.
-0-In the Hive Central
They sat in some sort of enthrallment around Arachnid who lounged on her outcropping of rock like a queen. The vibe of the place had down turned, tension building layer by layer like frosting on a very bad cake. Each level increased the malevolence of the last. She had their complete obedience and attention. Nothing anywhere could break that connection and she knew it.
Nearby watching with growing levels of fear and loathing, several Decepticons considered their situation. Seizor glanced at Runabout and Runamuck, both of them looking as jaundiced about their situation as he did. :We are going to be fragged in a second:
Runabout nodded. :We better be ready to fight:
:They outnumber us a zillion to one: Runamuck said.
:We need the Autobots: Seizor said. He looked at the mass of softly buzzing Insecticons before him, then glanced at the two Autobots. :Hey. Autobots:
It was silent a moment, then pings were sent. :What?:
:She's going to frag us. You can be on our side or die here alone: Seizor considered all of the exits and possibilities as he scanned the local vicinity. There was exits down three tunnels and none down two others. Insecticons were coming down those, possibly because Arachnid called them. It would be brutal to try and escape that way. :Are you in or out?:
:In: Sideswipe replied. Drift pinged his agreement. :What about our weapons?:
:You still have them. We plastered you. No one expected you to last this long: Runamuck replied, his optics never leaving Arachnid.
:What's the plan?: Drift asked.
:When the roof caves in, be ready to run. Follow me and keep up: Seizor said.
They pinged their approval and waited. Beyond them, the masses grew and the rumble of their approval of their queen could be felt in the earth around them.
-0-On the air
The pundits were going to town on the violence that had happened overnight around the world. Much was made of the 'growing disapproval' of the presence of aliens in their midst and the attack that had been visited on the base in Diego. Even though preliminary polling still held public opinion strongly in favor of the Autobots staying to add a level of protection that most polled were inclined to agree humans didn't possess themselves, pundits still chirped as if the data was otherwise. The talk shows on radio and television were brutal with the friends of sanity making slow going against the forces of reaction and wishful thinking.
Around the office water coolers, the CB lines and work places of America and elsewhere, the need to have them stay was understood even as the mechanics of their being here met with this kind of response from dissenting humans. It would be a long day for everyone as a handful of mechs and their human partners tracked an intractable foe underground.
-0-Out there
They came in their big ships following the signal of the one known as enemy to their partners. They had been burned by Megatron and were looking for more information about the aliens that had so cavalierly used them in their plans of conquest. The Great Hierarch had decided to send an emissary to the one whom the Metallic God had wanted destroyed. They were going to see what the enemy had to say.
They didn't usually make this gesture but something about the Metallic God had been off. More needed known. The Others, the Killers had joined Megatron wholeheartedly. They themselves didn't associate with the Killers. They hated and warred with them but the Metallics had been remarkable and enticing in their offer to allow them free range to hunt anyone on a conquered world they wanted once the enemy was dead.
The captain of the ship sat on his throne and considered their position. If the Hish aligned with the wrong side, then war would continue after the goal was achieved against a strengthened 'ally', one who had aligned with the Killers. That would throw the balance of power off and they would be hunting each other too in the end.
It would take a real measure of the other before they could be certain that the alliance they had made was worth the trouble of association. The Great Hierarch didn't think so. That was good enough for them. They continued onward into the inky darkness of space heading for the place where the enemy lived in a fortified solar system.
-0-In Iowa
They sat down to lunch with friends in a restaurant outside the capital. They were part of the local militia movement and belonged secretly to the Resistance. Their politics were well known and they acted on them as much as they could in their official elected capacities. Both of them were important in the legislature. She was an elected state delegate and he was state's attorney general.
Their friends were like minded and they were elated with the overnight news. The bombing campaign would shake the resolve of the world they believed, bringing down the polls regarding aliens among the populations. William Smith was feeling no pain as he ate his steak. His wife, Leigh was also in a good mood. "This is a great salad," she said with a smile. "This is a great day period."
The friends with them, militia all nodded. "Have you heard from your son yet?" a woman named Lana asked.
"Not yet. We know he deployed to Diego. He could very well be in the middle of the attack," she replied.
"What do you suppose that means?" another asked with the ghost of worry. "Have you heard whether he's injured or not?"
"The wounded were taken to Ramstein. He wasn't among them so we were notified not to worry. I think that it means the Autobots are frauds. They allowed Decepticons to be here even when they said the system was safe. It can't work out to their benefit in the long run," Brenda replied.
"Do you really believe that the Decepticons are here for them and will leave when they do?" she asked again.
"They will," William said firmly.
"Why don't they attack Mars if they want them? Why do they come here if they know where the Autobots are?" Lana asked.
Leigh glanced at her, a frown forming on her face. "They are seeking to divide us. When the Autobots leave, so will they. What do we have that they need?"
No one said anything, then the conversation changed.
-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
The planes landed and humans deplaned walking in groups toward the base. They were forensics experts coming to examine the damage and make the necessary reports to the necessary people. On Earth, the opposition in the United States Senate and House were already making demands for answers and appearances from bots to explain what happened and how it could be prevented in future. The same was true of treaty signatories in other places. The voices of reaction were reacting.
On the ground at ground zero, the effort continued to repair and replace that which was destroyed. The groups arrived at the hangars and paused as soldiers met them. Coming behind, her heels and skirts incongruous in the devastation, Charlotte Mearing homed in like a laser guided missile, a purse burdened subordinate or two hurrying along behind.
Ratchet had been aware of her from the moment she popped out of the plane and being senior Autobot officer on the scene, it fell to him to maintain order and protect everyone including the troops. This would be their first clash, the two of them and he was determined to win. She came to the groups and looked up at him. "Ratchet, I want to talk to you."
"Get in line," Ratchet said calmly. "These men were here first."
The investigators stood watching the exchange. The woman had made it clear to them on the way to the base that she was in charge and all of their questions, findings and concerns would be addressed to her first. Their leader, a man named Bob Paxton disabused her otherwise. They were neutral in this operation, only interested in the truth. They reported to others and she could call them.
She did.
"I would like a tour of this facility, Ratchet. I want to see the damage," she said.
Ratchet considered that, then made an internal call. A beautiful bot came forward from nearby and paused. "Jolt, the emissary here wants a 'tour'." Ratchet grinned.
The youngster clarifying the extent the tour should take internally grinned himself. "Sure," he said. Then he transformed. The entire group including Mearing looked at the youngster in car mode and blinked. A door opened.
"Get in. Jolt will give you a tour. You won't regret it," he said as she complied and he peeled out like a maniac. "Much," he added to the enjoyment of all there including her aides.
Jolt would drive madly all around the island for a half hour with Mearing screaming, swearing and pounding on his dash the entire time. When he finally pulled up in front of the hangar, she would be livid.
Ratchet on the other servo would be busy with more important things than placating her ego and sparring. He wouldn't care a bit.
-0-TBC June 29, 2013